Gaff hook



Patented El,

P'rer rein EMIL T. HOLTZ, OF SHELL LAKE, WISCONSN.

GAFF HOOK.

Application tiled October 4, 1923. Serial No. 666,583.l

To all whom it may concern: f

' Be it known that l, Enfin T. Honra, a citizen of the United States.residing at Shell Lake, in the county of `Washburn and State oflisconsin, have invented new and ".iseful Improvements in Grafi? Hooks,of which the following is a specification.

rThe object of this invention is to provide a device having the.characteristics of a 10 harpoon or spear.` and a hook, the implementbeing adapted for the capture of fish and small game.

A further object is to provide a device of thistype which shall includea plurality of l5 hooks having their bills and points turned toward eachother. with means for mountingl these hooks infsuch manner that theyserve as jaws, and a device for retaining and releasing` the jaws.

A still further object is to provide, in such an implement, a slidableelement controlling a trigger', pivoted spring-held iaws controlled bythe trigger, and a spear or barbed member carried by the trigger andadapted to hold ther game while the jaws are acting.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view. the invention consists inthe' novel constructionand arrangement of elements described andclaimed, it being understood 30 that modifications may be made withinthe scope of the claims without departing` from the spirit of theinvention.

ln the drawings. Figure 1 shows the device in side elevation; Figure 2is a detail view showing the hooks in open position; Figure 3 is a.detail view, with parts broken away, and showing a tubular stock orhandle, formed in sections this being a modification; Figure 4 is asection on line 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a sect-ion of one of' theclips used for connecting the springs with the hooks or jaws.

The stock or handle of the device may either be made oi? standard.length as in the '15 primary form, or may be made in sections as iu themodification shown in thc drawings, one section being detachable'. Thestock may also be made of tubular material, as illustrated. In Figure.1. the stock is designated 10 and is formed of metallic strips whichmay be each reinforced by longitudinal ribs, these strips being suitablyconnected with end pieces or blocks, of wood or meta-l, desig nated 12and 13. The blocks are apertured centrally, and an operating rod 14extends loosely therethrough. This rod is provided with a handle 15,having holes 16 therein, for the insertion of the fingers. so thatlongitudinal thrust may be imparted without engaging the fingers betweenthe handle and the end member 12. An additional aperture 18 permits ofthe attachment of a line.

The hooks each include a double shank, formed of one piece of steel, thetwo shanlrs being shown at 19, 19. The hooks per are designated 20, 21,and are spaced from each other, and the two double hooks have theirbills and points turned toward each other. At the extreme end of eachdouble hook is an eye member 22'. and the elements of' the` doubleShanks are connected by clips 23.

A trigger 25 is formedwith an end 2G slightly concave, and is connectedby pivots 26 with the double hooks, the pivots passing through the eyes22. The trigger is further connected with the operating rod 14 by a pinor rivet 14', andtwo prongs 28, 29 extend from the outer end of thetrigger, and are slightly curved, or made to diverge. Be tween theseprongs a barbed point or spear 30 is located.`

Springs 31, 32 are secured at 33. and are connected with the doublehooks by clips 34, each formed with notched portions 3G which closearound the shank portions of the respective hooks, the clips beingsecured to the springs by pins or rivets 37 passing through eyes 38 inthese springs` In the modification, illustrated in Figure 3 I have showna shank. stock, or handle 10 formed in a plurality of detachablesections 40, 41, 42, and these sections may be of tubular form, ifdesired.

The size of the complete implement will vary according to the use towhich it is lto be put, but the same construction is adapted for largefish or small ones. and for thc capture of small animals. In the smallersizes of the device, the pointed members on the trigger need not exceedone or one and a half inches. ln au .important sense the double hooksconstitute aws because of the 'function thereof.

In setting the device, before it is thrown. the handle 15 is pushedtoward the shank or stock 10. and when it engages the end meinn ber 12the jaws will be retained in open position. The thrust imparted to rod14 moves the trigger 25 outwardly and the jaws turn on their pivots atthe ends of the springs '31. 32. The springs flex and the trigger passesa dead center, thereby holding the aivs open. Then the implement isaccurately thrown the pointed elements on the end of the trigger strikethe game first, and the straight points cooperate with the barb in suchmanner that the fish or animal is held dur-ing the brief intervalrequired for the aivs yto snap` together. rlhis action is positive, andthere is little chance of escape, duringthe interval mentioned'. The`springs tend to hold the jaws closedwlien sprung, and in cooperationWit-litho hills of the hooks, niake the device unusually 'elfectivelVh'at I claim is:

1. A device 'of the class described, comprising a inain shank, a redmovable longl` tndinally thereof, a plurality of jaws, resilient`devices for pivotally mounting the jaws and permitting them to swingtoward 'and away from each other, 'and a combined spear and triggerconnected with lthe rod and j ai'vs and 'inoving' said jaws about theirpivotal points, the ends of the jaw and spear bein-gr in opposedrelation and approximately in alinement with the rod, when the jaws arei closed.

2. In a device of the class described, coinprisinfg a shank, hook shapedjaws, springs pivotally mounting the aWs at points intermediate of theirends, the springs being con nected with the shank, a triggerconnecting;r corresponding ends of the jaws and pivoted thereto, a rodextending longitudinally of the 'shank and connected with the trigger,and spear-ing' elements carried by the tri gger, the rod, trigger andspearing elementsbeing movable longitudinally with reference to theshan-lr. Y f i 3. A device of the 'class described, comprising a shank,a rod slidable therethrough, a handle for the rod, springs extending indiverging' relation from the end of the Shank, hook shaped jaws pivotedto the outer ends of the springs, la device connecting the shank ends ofthe hook shaped jaws, and movable away from the shank beyond the pivotalpoints of the jaws, said connecting device being secured to the rod, andspearing cleine'nts carried by the connecting device.

In testimony whereof' I faflix my signature.

EMIL T. HQL'IZ.

